Cardboard box construction



PLATT CARDBOARD BOX CONSTRUCTIQN Filed NOV. 9, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. jamue/ p/a/f ATTORNEY.

Feb. 6, 1940. s, PLATT I 2,189,151

CARDBOARD BOX CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 9, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. famue/ 0/5 1) ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to cardboard boxes, such as are used in bakery shops for enclosing cakes, and the like, and has for its objects animproved box adapted to be quickly folded or set up from a flat blank for placing the cake'or other object therein, without the necessity of using glue or interlocking tabs and slots, and which box may be easily and quickly unfolded to substantially its original form as a flat blank to m enable removal of the cake, for example, that may be enclosed therein, thereby eliminating the risk of disturbing the structure of the cake or its frosting. Another object is the provision of a folded box, including the cover, madefrom one 5 piece of cardboard, in which the cover acts to lock the box securely against unfolding, which box is cheaper-- to make than heretofore and is readily and quickly folded and unfolded by inexperienced persons without injury to the box or contents. Other objects and advantages will appear in the drawings and specifications annexed hereto.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my box in folded position with a portion of the 5 top broken out to expose the internal structure of one of the front corners of the box relative to the locking cover flap.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blank from which the box is developed.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the blank of Fig. 2 partially folded.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the side of the box and one of the front corners showing the manner of folding up the front side of the box relative to one of the lateral sides.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the folded box showing the inner lateral side of the box, and showing the front and rear corners along said side in elevation.

Heretofore, most ordinary cake boxes of the folded type are formed with tabs at the four corners and the sides of the box have slots through which the tabs are adapted to extend and to lock w therein against unfolding of the box. These tabs are curved or notched out along one edge, and undesirable pieces of the blank stick within the notched-out portions after the blank is out, which pieces are knocked out by an operator from a pile of blanks by a hammer, which process is known as stripping." Since the curved edges of the tabs substantially enclose said undesirable pieces, even an expert stripper has dimculty in rapidly stripping the blanks inasmuchasthe pieces are small and the enclos- 'ing edges of the tabs extend partially around the outer edges of the pieces relative to the centers of the blanks. With my construction the stripping is easily and rapidly performed since all reentrant contours formed along the edges of my blank open directly outwardly and do not enclose the undesirable pieces. The hammer head readily passes through the recesses cut inwardlyfrom the side edges of the blang clearing the pieces in similar recesses in a single stroke without interference from the enclosing tabs.

,Also, heretofore. where the tab and slot connections are used at the corners of the boxes, it is necessary for the operator to "break the tabs along the crease lines as well as along the box sides, and also the operator must carefully lock each tab separately, thus consuming much time in folding the boxes before placing the cakes therein and after the cake is in the box and, the sides cannot be unfolded for removal of the cake, without tearing the corners or mutilating the cake. With my box, there are no interlocking tabs, and with both hands acting simultaneously the operator may look the box in folded position for inserting the cake, after which the cover is drawn over the top of the box and the cover flap, along one edge, positively looks the box against unfolding. When the cake is to be re moved, and after thecover is raised, the single, simple operation by the operator of pulling down the front side of the box will unfold all of the. box sides and the cake is-accessible for sliding onto a plate from the bottom without the necessity of lifting the cake, and the box can be refolded, if desired, for enclosing the remainder of the cake, if the same is not used up.

In detail, the blank from which my box is formed comprises a generally elongated substantially rectangular sheet of cardboard, creased transversely across about halfway between the end edges along spaced parallel, crease lines I, 2 and longitudinally creased from end to end along crease lines 3, 4 which latter creases are spaced equal distances from the opposite side edges of the blank respectively. Along one of the ends of the blank nearest crease 2 is a crease 5 that is parallel with crease 2 and which crease is spaced from the end edge of the blank adjacent thereto substantially the same distance as crease 3 or crease 4 is spaced from the nearest side edge. A crease 6, parallel with crease I, is provided along the end of the blank opposite crease 5, which crease 6 is spaced from the end edge near est thereto a relatively short distance as compared with the distance between crease 5 and its nearest end edge.

The bottom of the box, when folded, comprises the rectangular area 1 that is bounded by crease lines 2, 3, 4, 5 and the top of the box is the substantially similar shaped area 8 that is bounded by the crease lines I, 3, 4, 8. The front side of the box, when folded is the area 8 bounded by crease lines 3, 4, 5 and the free end edge of the box while the rear side of the box is the area I0 bounded by crease lines I, 2, 3, 4, the distance between crease lines I, 2 being substantially the same as the distance between crease line 5 and the free edge adjacent thereto, or the distance between crease line 3, or 4 and the nearest side edge to creases 3, 4 respectively. The lateral sides of the box are portions I I, I2, portion I I being bounded by crease lines 2, 4, 5 and the free side edge of the blank adjacent thereto, and portion I2 being bounded by crease lines 2, 3, 5 and the free edge of the box nearest line 3. The lateral sides of the box cover, are portions I3, I4, the portion I3 being bounded along three sides by crease lines I, 4 and the free side edge of the blank nearest crease 4, while the portion I4 is bounded on three sides by creases I, 3 and the free side edge of the blank nearest crease 3. The end flap on the cover 8 of the blank, is portion I5, which portion lies between crease line 8 and the free end edge of the box nearest thereto.

The comers of the blank adjacent, and outwardly of the intersection of creases 4, 8 and 3, 8, are cut away so as to permit flap I5 to be independently folded upwardly, referring to Figs. 2, 3, without interference from portions I3, I4, which latter portions are also adapted to be folded upwardly (Fig. 3).

From the foregoing, it will be seen that relatively small, rectangular portions remain outwardly of the outer opposite ends of portion I8 and between portions I 3, II and I2, I4. The portion outwardly of one end of portion I II, is bounded along three sides by creases I, 2, 4 and the portion along the opposite end is bounded on three sides by creases I, 2, 3. These outwardly disposed portions, relative to portion I0, are each slotted out from the free edge of the blank nearest thereto to form a rectangular slot I8 at one side margin of the blank adjacent crease 3 and a rectangular slot H at the side margin of the blank adjacent crease 4, leaving substantially equally sized marginal portions between creases I, 2, 4 and between creases I, 2, 3 and the edges of the slots. From the inner corner of slot I8 are divergent creases I8 extending to the points of intersection of creases I, 3 and 2, 3 respectively, which are nearest slot I8, and similar divergent creases I9 extend from the inner corners of slot II,to the points of intersection of the crease I, 4 and 2, 4 respectively, which are nearest slot I I. The outer corner of slots I8, II are cut off along convergent lines, extending from the ends of creases I, 2 respectively in substantial longitudinal alignment with one of the creases I8 or I8, as will be readily seen from the drawing, Fig. 2. The creases I8, I9 are preferably perforated through along the line of the creases, to facilitate bending along the said creases, as seen in Fig. 4, so that the marginal portion of the slots I8, II will lie fiat when folded together as seen in Fig. 5, at A, without tending to put a strain on the sides of the box.

The outer corners of the blank at the opposite ends of portion 9 are slotted out at 28, 2| to form slots substantially identical with slots I 8, I1.

Greases 22, 23 extend respectively from one inner corner of slots 28, 2I to the intersection of creases 3, B and 4, 8 and are perforated'through, substantially in the same manner as creases l8, while creases 24, 25 extend respectively from the opposite inner corners of slot 28, 2| to the intersections of creases 3, 4 with the end edge of the blank that bounds one side of portion 9, and these creases are not perforated.

Small tabs 28, 21 are formed in the bodies of portions II, I2 adjacent crease line 5, and said tabs respectively are nearer to creases 3, 4 than to the free side edges of the portions II, I2 for a reason later to be described. These tabs connect with the blank along one end only, remote from crease 5 and the opposite ends of the tabs are adjacent crease 5 and are free' to be bent out of the plane of portions II, I2 along creases 28, El and inwardly toward each other when the portions II, I2 are positioned as shown in Fig. 3.

In operation, the blank is first positioned flat as shown on Fig. 2, and then the portions I5, 8, I0, I, including the portions carrying slots I6, I1, 20, 2I, are successively bent upwardly to break" the stiffness of the blank along creases I, 2, 5. Then the portions I2, I4, I3, II, including the por- .tions carrying slots I8, 20, I1, 2I are bent upwardly along creases 3, 4 and then by holding the side portions I2, I I up with the middle fingers of the right and left hand, and drawing the end 8 upwardly with the thumbs while guiding the margins 30 adjacent slots 20, 2| over the opposite margins 3! of said slots and downwardly into the box, as indicated in Figs. 3, 4, the forward comers of the box are formed and margins 30, 3I will be flat together at the comers as indicted in Figs. 1 and 5. As the margins 30 are moved downwardly into the box to positions overlying margins 3|, the middle fingers of the operator will normally slide downwardly over the opposite outer sides of the box at the forward comers to engage the outer sides of tabs 28, 21 which tabs are then readily forced inwardly to engage over the edge of margins 30 to temporarily hold the margins at slots 20, 2| respectively in overlying positions relatively with the sides II, I2 and end 9 of the box at right-angles relative to the bottom portion I. Thereafter the cake or other object is placed within the box on bottom portion 1, either by sliding the cake over top 8 into said'box or by placing the cake directly on said bottom.

After the cake is on bottom I, the operator brings the cover over the top of the cake, the marginal portions at slots I8, I'I being first slightly pressed inwardly toward each other as indicated by dotted lines 33 in Fig. 3, and said marginal portions will readily and automatically fold over each other as indicated in Fig. 5, at A, with the sides I3, I4 of the top lying over and substantially against the outer sides of side portions II, I2 of the box. The flap portion I5 of the top isthen inserted between the overlying margins around slots 20, 2|, as indicated at B in Fig. 5 and the front side 8 of the box, thus positively locking the box against unfolding.

When the box is opened, by turning back top 8 the operator merely pulls forwardly and down- 'wardly on the front side 9 and the portions B, comprising the overlying margins around slots 20, 2| will readily be released from engagement by tabs 28, 21, thus returning the box to its open, unfolded position whereby the cake can be slipped over any side of the box, as desired, or the cake can be lifted off the bottom I without interference from the front 8 and sides II, II. The box can then obviously be refolded in the same manner as already described, since it is not injured in any manner.

In "breaking" the stiffness along any of the creases, it is manifest that this can be done in any desired sequence, hence that specifically described need not be followed exactly. Also, none I, of the creases. need be perforated, this provision l0 merely being to form a more perfectly shaped box, and the box may be made in any desired size. The elimination of glue, and interlocking slots and tabs, with the positive locking of the box by the front flap on the cover only, provides for simplicity, ease and rapidity of folding and unfolding the box, with the attending advantages which result in appreciable saving of labor, expense, and convenience over the glued or interlocking tab and slot construction.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A box formed from a single flat blank of cardboard comprising a top, bottom, front side, rear side, and two opposed lateral sides, the top, front side, rear side and opposed lateral sides being arranged and adapted to outfold to form a flat blank, means at the forward corners of the box including corner pieces folded to within the box releasably securing the front side and lateral sides against outfolding and means on the top arranged and adapted to move to a position within the box and to releasably engage and to substantially lock the corner pieces against unfolding releasing of the front side and lateral sides for outfolding when the top is in position over the bottom, the means on the top being adapted to freely move with the top out of engagement with the corner pieces when the top is moved to a position from over said bottom, and said top being secured to the rear side of the box for swinging to a position from over said bottom.

2. In a construction as defined in claim 1, said top being provided with extensions along two opposed edges arranged and adapted to extend over the outer lateral sides of the box when the top is in position over said bottom.

3. In a construction as defined in claim 1, the means on said top comprising a flap along the edge of the top arranged and adapted to lie ,along the inner surface of the front side when the top is in position over said bottom.

4. In box construction, means forming the bottom and at least three lateral sides of a substan tially rectangular box comprising a flat, substantially rectangular blank of cardboard, or the like, formed with marginal creases along two opposite edges of the blank and along one of the edges extending between said opposite edges defining a central bottom portion inwardly of said creases and marginal portions outwardly of the creases, the marginal crease extending between said opposite edges intersecting ends of the marginal creases along said opposite edges at two corners of the blank thereby forming corner pieces on the blank outwardly of the intersections of the creases, corner creases formed in the corner pieces arranged for bending therealong for folding the corner pieces inwardly to positions over one side of said central bottom portion upon folding the marginal portions along the marginal creases to positions extending at right-angles to said central bottom portion, separate means respectively secured to at least two of said marginal portions against removal therefrom, each of said separate means being arranged and adapted to be moved to a position extending over one of the infolded corner pieces at a point closely adjacent the corners of the box formed by folding said marginal portions to said positions for releasably securing said corner pieces against unfolding.

5. In a construction as defined in claim 4, a cover for the box bottom and sides adapted to be formed by said blank, said cover being hingedly secured to the blank along the edge thereof that is opposite the marginal portion extending between the marginal creases along said opposite edges, said cover being of a size to extend over said central bottom section and a flap along the edge of said cover opposite the edge adjacent its hinge connection with said blank, said cover being adapted to swing on its hinge connection with said blank to cover the central bottom portion, and said flap being arranged and adapted to slide to a position between the infolded corner pieces and the marginal portion of the blank that extends between the said two opposite edges when said marginal portions are folded to positions at right-angles to said central portion.

6. Corner construction in a folding, cardboard box, having lateral sides and a bottom made from a single, flat sheet of cardboard, comprising a generally rectangular corner piece integrally connecting along two of its adjacent edges with the adjacent end edges of two adjacent sides of the box and the other two edges of the corner piece being free, said corner piece being formed with a slot extending inwardly from one of the free edges, the opposite side edges of said slot extending convergently from said one of the free edges toward the inner closed end of the slot and said convergently extending edges terminating at points spaced from the inner closed end of the slot leaving marginal portions on the corner piece along each of the side edges of the slot connected at one of their ends by a marginal portion extending across the inner closed end of the slot, transverse creases formed on the corner piece extending divergently from the inner closed end of the slot to the end of one of said adjacent sides and said corner piece being folded along said creases to within the corner formed by said adjacent sides with the marginal portions around the slot disposed in overlying relationship and over one of said adjacent sides, means on the other adjacent side and adjacent said corner projecting inwardly of the box to a position over the overlying marginal portions of said corner piece releasably securing said marginal portions against unfolding.

7. In box construction, a substantially rectangular blank of cardboard formed with intersecting creases arranged and adapted to define a central portion and marginal portions therearound which marginal portions are adapted to be folded along the creases to one side of the central portion and to within planes disposed at right-angles to the plane of said central portion for forming the lateral sides of the box with said central portion forming the bottom of the box, corner pieces formed integrally with the blank at two of the corners of the blank at opposite ends of the same lateral side of the box, said corner pieces being creased and slotted to fold to within the box and over said central portion when the marginal portions are folded to form said lateral sides, a top for said box movable to and from a position over said central portion for covering and uncovering the box and a flap on said top slidably positioned between said same lateral side of the box and the corner pieces when the latter are folded to within the box and when the said top is in box-covering position, said flap releasably securing said corner pieces against unfolding, and said corner pieces being relatively free for unfolding without injury thereto when said cover and the flap are moved to a position uncovering the box.

8. A rectangular box having a bottom, and four lateral sides formed from a single, flat blank of cardboard creased along intersecting pairs of parallel lines and folded along said lines, corner pieces connecting between adjacent lateral sides of the box at their adjacent edges, said can ner pieces, respectively being folded on themselves to a position within the box, a cover for said box, a flap on said cover arranged and adapted to engage at least two of said comer pieces and to secure the same against unfolding when said cover is in box-closing position covering the side of the box opposite said bottom, and means separate and independent from said flap, and formed integrally with the blank, releasably securing the said two of said corner pieces against unfolding when said cover is moved to a position uncovering said side of the box opposite said bottom.

9. A rectangular box having a bottom, and four lateral sides integrally formed from a single flat blank of cardboard creased along intersecting pairs of parallel lines and folded along said lines, corner pieces connecting between adjacent lateral sides of the box at their adjacent edges. said corner pieces respectively being folded on themselves to a position within the box and means formed integrally with the blank releasably securing said corner pieces against unfolding, said the adjacent end edges of two adjacent sides of r I the box and the other two edges of the corner piece being free, said corner piece being formed with a slot extending inwardly from one of the free edges, the opposite side edges of said slot extending convergently from said one of the free edges toward the inner closed end of the slot and said convergently extending edges terminating at points spaced from the inner closed end of the slot leaving marginal portions on the corner piece along each of the side edges of the slot connected at one of their ends by a marginal portion extending across the inner closed end of said slot, transverse creases formed on the comer piece extending divergently from the inner closed end of the slot to the end of one of said adjacent sides and said corner piece being folded along said creases to a position within the corner formed by said adjacent sides with the marginal portions around the slot disposed in overlying relationship and over one of said adjacent sides, a tab on the other of said adjacent sides connected at one of its ends to said other of said adjacent sides with the 0pposite end of said tab being forced to a position holding the marginal portions around said slot in said overlying relationship.

SAMUEL PLATE. 

